Hypothesis: A prediction of the outcome of an experiment without an explanation.

2. Hypothesis: A prediction of the outcome of an experiment without an explanation. Example: Group collaboration of space items will be more effective than individual analysis. Sentence: My hypothesis was proven correct after the experiment was complete.

3. Theory: a testable model of the interaction of natural phenomena, that can predict future observations, and can be tested. Example: It is a fact that an apple dropped on earth has been observed to fall towards the center of the planet, and the theories commonly used to describe and explain this behavior are Newton's theory of universal gravitation

4. Law: Universal and invariable facts of the world. Can be disproved if evidence contradicts them Example: Mendelian genetics, that explain how genes are passed to offspring is an accepted law, not yet disproven. Sentence: A law has been tested thoroughly and not disproven, while a theory has not been tested significantly and needs to be tested more to become law.

5. Experiment: A method of investigating research questions, solving problems, and testing a hypothesis. Example: Working as individuals to rank the NASA items, followed by working as a group to rank those items was the experiment.

6. Experimental Control: When testing a hypothesis everything that is kept the same from trial to trial is the control. There are many controls in one experiment. Ask yourself, “What Do I Keep the Same?” Example: If one were to measure the influence of different quantities of fertilizer on plant growth, the controlled variables would be the type of plant, the type of fertilizer, the amount of sunlight the plant gets, the size of the pots, etc. (the factors that would otherwise influence the experiment if they were not controlled).

7. Independent Variable: The part of the experiment deliberately changed to cause a change. Ask yourself, “What Do I Change?” Example: If one were to measure the influence of different quantities of fertilizer on plant growth, the independent variable would be the amount of fertilizer used (the changing factor of the experiment).

8. Dependant Variable: Those parts that change in response to a change in the independent variable. Ask yourself, “What Do I Observe?” Example: If one were to measure the influence of different quantities of fertilizer on plant growth, the dependent variables would be the growth in height and/or mass of the plant (the factors that are influenced in the experiment)

9. Data: Information gathered during a scientific investigation Example: Measuring the temperature when water boils is data collection and those numbers can be used to support a hypothesis.

10. Quantitative Data: Data that is expressed using numbers. Example: Our bacteria sample had 3.2 million bacterial organisms, weighing 1 gram.

11. Qualitative Data: Data that is described in words. Example: The organism had red and blue colored feathers that were silky in feel.

12. Phylogenic tree branching diagram or "tree" showing the inferred evolutionary relationships among various biological species

13. Meteor: a small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth's atmosphere Example: Shooting star

14. Asteroid: a small rocky body orbiting the sun Example:

15. Geologic Time line: is a system of chronological measurement that relates stratigraphy to time Example:

16. Evidence: Proof of something happening. Example: We observed water boil at 100 degrees Celsius five times in a row. We now have evidence that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

17. Sampling: The process by which a small number of a population is selected as representatives of the entire population. Example: When studying humans we cannot study all 6.5 billion so we use a smaller number that is an average of the larger population.

18. Scale: Relates concepts and ideas to one another by some measurement; provides a measure of size and/or incremental change. Example: The most common scale is the key on a map that will scale the drawing and allow you to figure out how far map locations are from each other.

19. Precision: The consistency of a set of measurements. Example: When shooting an arrow you repeatedly have all the arrows hit in the same area.

20. Accuracy: The proximity of measurements to the true value. Example: When shooting an arrow you have the arrows hit close to the bulls eye.

21. Conclusion: A statement, which is arrived at after the consideration of evidence, arguments or premises. Example: If plant A, with the least fertilizer, did not grow and plant C, with the most fertilizer, grew the tallest, the evidence concludes that more fertilizer causes plants to grow taller.

22. Deductive Logic: Logic used in mathematics that when arranged properly cannot be disproved. Example: (1) Arches National Park lies entirely within the state of Utah. (2) I am standing in Arches National Park. (3) Therefore, I am standing in the state of Utah.

23. Inductive Logic: The logic of theory building. One makes a set of observations, and seeks to explain what one sees. Used in physical world. Can be disproved. Example: Newton determined the formula for calculating gravity based on many observations. Up until Einstein this formula worked, but Einstein found a flaw and revised his theory to develop the theory of general relativity.

24. Inference: A logical guess based upon observations and prior knowledge, may be proven correct or incorrect. Example: Observing that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius five times in a row we can now infer that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

25. System: A group of related objects that works together to achieve a desired result. Example: An assembly line is a system that works to create an object such as a car on a car assembly line.

26. Open Loop System: A group of related objects that do not have feedback and cannot modify themselves. Example: Setting the car on cruise control and it does not adjust to keep at a specific speed. It is cruising, but will not maintain speed downhill or uphill.

27. Closed Loop System: A group of related objects that do have feedback and can modify themselves. Example: In a car assembly line if the door attachment area slows down the whole line before must slow to prevent back up at the door attachment area.

28. Closed Loop System: A group of related objects that do have feedback and can modify themselves. Example: In a car assembly line if the door attachment area slows down the whole line before must slow to prevent back up at the door attachment area.

29. Positive Feedback Loop: When change occurs in a system, this causes further change, in the same direction. Example: When the body is injured it releases signal chemicals to create platelets. The created platelet makes more chemical and releases more platelets. Lactation, contractions in childbirth are other examples.

30. Negative Feedback Loop: A system of control in which the system regulates the level desired and will adjust as to keep the desired level. Example: A thermostat regulates the temperature in the home. When you reach that temp the system turns off, if you go too high the air turns on, if you go too low the heat kicks in.

31. Heterogeneous: Composed of different parts. Visibly consisting of different components Example: When oil and water are mixed they do not blend together but end up as two distinctive liquids.

32. Homogeneous: Similar or the same. Having the same composition throughout; uniform. Example: When mixing water and food coloring together they mix homogeneously into one blended solution which is uniform throughout.

33. Species: A group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. Example: A horse and a donkey can mate and create a mule, but the mule is sterile, therefore the horse and donkey are different species.

34. Biodiversity: Variations of life at all levels of biological organization, genetically, species, and ecosystem. Example: A rainforest has millions of species of plants, insects, animals and is extremely biodiverse, unlike Antartica with very little biodiversity.

35. Population: A collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular species. Usually in the same area. Example: The human population in the United States numbers in about 350 million, while the insect population of Doylestown is about 350 million.

36. Differentiation: When a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell. Example:

37. Phenotype: Any observable characteristic or trait of an organism Example:

38. Genotype: The genetic make-up of a cell, organism, or individual, usually with reference to a specific trait. Example: Assume A is dominant for blue flower and a is recessive for white flower. One gene comes from each parent. If you are: AA is blue colored flower Aa is blue colored flower aa is white colored flower

39. Innate: A characteristic that is with an organism from birth. They are born with it. Example: Innate characteristics can include eye color, hair color, skin color, etc. These are all determined prior to birth.

40. Acquired: A characteristic that is obtained throughout an organisms lifetime. The organism is not born with this. Example: Acquired characteristics include body weight, muscle strength, knowledge about various topics. These characteristics are obtained throughout life.

41. Genome: The full set of chromosomes or genes in a cell. Example: Normal humans have a genome of 46 chromosomes in every cell except sperm or egg cells.

42. Gene: Basic unit of heredity in a living organism. A segment of information that specifies a trait. Example: Humans have millions of genes, each segment of information describing a specific characteristic, like hair color, height, aggressive behavior. All the genes make up the genome.

43. Dominance: Each person has two genes one from each parent. The genes are at odds with each other and the dominant gene is displayed as a phenotype. Free ear lobes are the dominant gene and attached are the recessive. If one parent gives you a free ear lobe gene you automatically have free ear lobes.

44. Recessive: Each person has two genes one from each parent. The genes are at odds with each other and the recessive gene is weaker and often not displayed as a phenotype. Attached ear lobes are the recessive gene and free lobes are the dominant. The only way to display attached ear lobes is if both parents gave you the recessive gene.

45. Mutation: Changes to the genetic sequence of an organism, caused by copying errors, outside hazards, or purposeful change. Example: In some Europeans there is a 32 base pair deletion in a protein that causes HIV resistance.

46. Mammals: Vertebrate animals that grow hair, produce sweat, produce milk, and give birth to live young. Example: Humans are mammals and possess all of the above, plus are the most advanced due to the large cerebrum (part of brain that indicates intelligence)

47. Biotic: Any living organism. Most biotic organisms are carbon based life forms. Example: Biotic organisms include plants, animals, bacteria, etc.

48. Abiotic: Non-living chemical and physical characteristics in the environment. Example: Abiotic factors include: light, radiation, temperature, water. All affect living things, but are not living themselves.

49. Natural Selection: Individuals with favorable phenotypes are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with less favorable phenotypes. Schematic representation of how antibiotic resistance is enhanced by natural selection. The top section represents a population of bacteria before exposure to an antibiotic. The middle section shows the population directly after exposure, the phase in which selection took place. The last section shows the distribution of resistance in a new generation of bacteria. The legend indicates the resistance levels of individuals.

50. Adaptation: Any change in the structure or functioning of an organism that makes it better suited to its environment Example: In ocular physiology, adaptation is the ability of the eye to adjust to various levels of darkness and light.